Bernardine Evaristo made history in 2019 when her novel Girl, Woman, Other won the Booker Prize, making her the first Black woman and first Black British person to win the award. Just three years later, Evaristo returned with her nonfiction debut, a memoir about her unconventional path to success—and advice on how to follow suit. “Creativity circulates freely in our imaginations, waiting for us to tap into it,” she writes. “It must not be bound by rules or censorship, yet we should not ignore its socio-political contexts.” From a set of “early knock-backs” to her relationship with queerness and the power of persistence, Evaristo leaves no stone unturned. —Laura Zornosa
Buy Now: Manifesto on Bookshop | Amazon
More Must-Reads From TIME
- For Both Donald Trump and Alvin Bragg, the Central Park Jogger Case Was a Turning Point
- If Donald Trump Is Indicted, Here's What Would Happen Next in the Process
- Alison Roman Won't Sugarcoat It
- Why Not All Observant Muslims Fast During Ramadan
- All of the Other Major Investigations Into Donald Trump
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now
- The Case for Betting on Succession's Tom Wambsgans
- Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's Surprising Second Act
- Column: Ozempic Exposed the Cracks in the Body Positivity Movement